Cellulosic complex and applications thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a polysaccharide supported fluorinating agents which can be used in fluorination reactions. The invention particularly describes a new bacterial cellulose supported tetra-n-butyl ammonium fluoride complex [NBu4(Bac-Cell-OH)F] which is stable and non-hygroscopic. The invention further relates to a process for fluorination using the [NBu4(Bac-Cell-OH)F] complex.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to polysaccharide supported tetra-n-butyl ammonium fluoride complexes. More particularly, the present invention provides stable, non-hygroscopic cellulosic complexes with tetra-n-butyl ammonium fluoride as a fluorinating agent. The synthesized complexes exhibit broad substrate scope and excellent yields in fluorination reactions.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION

Fluorination reactions are of critical importance because fluorine (F) is one of the key elements present in most of pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and material industry products. Almost 30% of new drugs being discovered contain F as one of their crucial elements.

Introducing fluorine atom in the organic backbone is very challenging because of the small size and low solubility of the fluoride salts in most of the organic solvents. Also, fluorine atom interacts with other functional groups like esters, alcohols, amides etc. present in the organic molecules through hydrogen bonding and prevent its facile insertion. Fluoride salts are highly basic in nature and solvation effects further reduce their nucleophilic characteristics. Further, due to hygroscopic nature and lack of hydrogen-bond contributor, fluoride basicity can override its nucleophilicity and can lead to unwanted side reactions. Hence, hydrogen bonding may act as an amplifier to increase the nucleophilicity of the fluorine atoms.

Tetra alkyl ammonium fluoride salts are commonly used in fluorination reactions, but these salts are extremely hygroscopic, possess low thermal stability and are mostly available in their hydrated form which has very poor nucleophilic characteristics. The poor stability profile of tetra alkyl ammonium fluoride salts has created a need to provide more stable fluoride salts to conduct fluorination reactions.

Very few reports are present in literature for synthesizing the bench stable fluorinating complexes or reagent. Recently scientists have synthesized more stable, less hygroscopic fluorine complexes from fluoride-tert-butyl alcohol complex, fluoride-alcohol complex and fluoride-diaryluria complex. These complexes are stable through their NH—F and OH—F hydrogen bonding. However, while being used as a fluorinating agent, they lack specificity and result in formation of undesired side products.

Hence there is a long-pending need in the art for non-hygroscopic, stable flourinating agents that can provide desired flourinated compounds with high level of selectivity and specificity.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a simple, non-hygroscopic and thermally stable polysaccharide supported fluorinating agent complex.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple, non-hygroscopic and thermally stable polysaccharide supported tetra-n-butyl ammonium fluoride (TBAF) complex that can effectuate fluorination reactions with high selectivity towards desired fluorinated products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a non-hygroscopic and thermally stable polysaccharide supported complex with fluorine compounds as a new fluorinating agent. More particularly, the present invention provides a new, non-hygroscopic and thermally stable bacterial cellulosic complex with TBAF fluorinating agent for the fluorination reactions.

In an embodiment, the polysaccharides are selected from plant cellulose, bacterial cellulose, starch and pectin. In a preferred embodiment, the cellulose is bacterial celluloses.

In an embodiment, the bacterial cellulose used as a polysaccharide support which is obtained from Komagataeibacter rharticus PG2 strain isolated from pomegranate host, having a crystallinity index of 80.80 measured using XRD and a nano-fibrillar width in the range of 30-80 nm measured using scanning electron microscopy.

In an embodiment, the non-hygroscopic, thermally stable polysaccharide supported TBAF complexes are useful as fluorinating agents and they facilitate the formation of the desired fluorinated products with a high degree of selectivity with minimal formation of undesired products.

Abbreviations Used

Sr. No Name Abbreviation 1 TBAF Tetra-n-butyl ammonium fluoride 2 Pectin- TBAF Complex NBu₄(Pec-OH)F 3 Plant Cellulose- TBAF Complex NBu₄(Pla-cell-OH)F 4 Bacterial Cellulose- TBAF Complex NBu₄(Bac-cell-OH)F 5 Starch- TBAF Complex NBu₄(Sta-OH)F 6 Standard fluorination complex NBu₄F 7 Literature reported fluorination complex NBu₄(tert-Bu—OH)₄F

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) pattern of NBu₄(Bac-cell-OH)F and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image (inset) of NBu₄(Bac-cell-OH)F.

FIG. 2: Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) image of NBu₄(Bac-cell-OH)F

FIG. 3: Visual demonstration of the hygroscopicity of 1. NBu₄(Pec-OH)F, 2. NBu₄(Bac-OH)F 3. NBu₄ (Pla-cell-OH)F, 4. NBu₄ (Sta-cell-OH)F and 5. NBu₄F.

FIG. 4: Visual demonstration of the hygroscopicity of 1. NBu₄(Bac-OH)F, 2. NBu₄(tert-Bu-OH)F and 3. NBu₄F

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described in detail in connection with certain preferred and optional embodiments, so that various aspects thereof may be more fully understood and appreciated.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to non-hygroscopic, thermally stable polysaccharide supported TBAF complexes and their applications in aliphatic S_(N)2 fluorination reaction.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides non-hygroscopic, thermally stable polysaccharide supported TBAF complexes wherein the w/w ratio of polysaccharide to TBAF is in the range of 1:0.3 to 1:6.

In another embodiment, the polysaccharide support is selected from the group comprising of pectin, bacterial cellulose, plant cellulose and starch.

In an embodiment, the bacterial cellulose used as a polysaccharide support which is obtained from Komagataeibacter rharticus PG2 strain isolated from pomegranate host, having a bacterial cellulose has a crystallinity index of 80.80 measured using XRD and a nano-fibrillar width in the range of 30-80 nm measured using scanning electron microscopy.

In an embodiment the non-hygroscopic, thermally stable polysaccharide supported TBAF complex is synthesized by a process comprising the steps of:

-   -   a) adding polysaccharide support and tetra-n-butyl ammonium         fluoride hydrate at a w/w ratio of 1:0.3 to 1:6 in hexane to         obtain a mixture;     -   b) refluxing the mixture as obtained in step (a) under inert         atmosphere at 80° C. for 1.5 h with vigorous stirring to obtain         a solution;     -   c) cooling the solution as obtained in step (b) to 25-30° C.,         filtering, washing with hexane followed by drying under high         vacuum to obtain the desired non-hygroscopic, thermally stable         polysaccharide supported TBAF complex.

In an embodiment, the polysaccharide supports used in the non-hygroscopic, thermally stable polysaccharide supported TBAF complexes are stable, non-hygroscopic and recyclable.

In another embodiment, the non-hygroscopic, thermally stable polysaccharide supported TBAF complexes are characterized using EDAX, SEM and TEM (FIGS. 1 and 2). In the SEM image, white dots are observed, confirming the loading of TBAF in the polysaccharides (FIG. 1). The TEM images show TBAF observed with bacterial cellulose (FIG. 2).

In another embodiment, hygroscopicity of the polysaccharide supported TBAF complexes were evaluated by exposing the samples to air at room temperature. After a time duration in the range of 15 minutes to 2 hours, the polysaccharide supported TBAF complexes were examined visually and the results are shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The top row indicates visual comparison of samples after exposure for 15 minutes while the bottom row is after two hours of exposure. The reported TBAF(3) and reported complex NBu₄(tert-Bu-OH)₄F (2) (Angew. Chem. 2008, 120, 8532-8534) is hygroscopic and became liquid within 15 minutes and 2 h respectively while the bacterial cellulosic-TBAF complexes prepared in present invention remained stable up to more than two hours without getting liquefied. The study was continued and the disclosed non-hygroscopic, thermally stable polysaccharide supported TBAF complexes prepared in present invention were found to be stable for 21 days.

In another embodiment, the non-hygroscopic, thermally stable polysaccharide supported TBAF complex were used as a fluorinating agent for the fluorination of representative antibiotics, cancer drugs, sugars, steroids, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicide. The disclosed complexes provided 40-99% selectivity. We have preferred to keep the range broad because the agent is versatile and stable towards desired products with minimal side product formation.

In an embodiment, the fluorination reactions using the non-hygroscopic, thermally stable polysaccharide supported TBAF complex give selectivity towards desired products on recycling the polysaccharide support up to 4 times.

In an embodiment, the process for fluorination reaction using the non-hygroscopic, thermally stable polysaccharide supported TBAF complex comprises the steps of:

-   -   i) charging substrate compound and polysaccharide supported TBAF         complex in 1:1-2 w/w ratio into a solvent to get a reaction         mixture;     -   ii) stirring the reaction mixture as obtained in step i) at a         temperature in the range of 50-100° C. for 3 hrs;     -   iii) cooling the reaction mixture as obtained in step ii) to a         temperature in the range of 25-35° C., filtering and washing         with ethyl acetate solvent;     -   iv) removing the solvent from the reaction mixture as obtained         at step iii) under reduced pressure to obtain the fluorinated         compound;     -   v) purifying the fluorinated compound as obtained in step iv)         using flash chromatography by using 20% ethyl acetate in hexane         eluent to afford pure fluorinated compounds.

In one embodiment, the solvent used in step (i) of the fluorination reaction is selected from acetonitrile or toluene The representative process for the fluorination of compound 5 is depicted below in scheme-1; wherein X is a good leaving group to be replaced with fluorine.

Table-1 below summarizes the results obtained by using different mole ratios of NBu₄. (Bact-Cell-OH)F complex for different time intervals. 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenoxy) propyl methane sulphonate (5a) is used as a substrate and compounds 1-(3-fluoropropoxy)-3,5-dimethoxybenzene (6a) and 1-(allyloxy)-3,5-dimethoxy benzene (6b) are the fluorination products.

TABLE 1 Entry NBu₄(Bac-cell-OH)F Time Yield^(c) No^(a) (Mole ratio)^(b) Solvent (h) 6a 6b 1 1 CH₃CN 2 90 — 2 1.5 CH₃CN 2 92 — 3 2 CH₃CN 2 88 trace 4^(d) 2 CH₃CN 1.5 87 14 5 2 CH₃CN 1 85 13 6 2 CH₃Ph 2 71 19 7^(e) 2 CH₃CN 2 81 9 ^(a)All reactions were carried out on a 1.0 mmol scale of substrate in solvent (8.0 mL) at 70° C. ^(b)Fluorine complex used equivalent ratio of TBAF (Use 2 eq. of TBAF loaded in 1 eq. bacterial cellulose ie 100% of TBAF). ^(c)Isolated yields. ^(d)Reaction carried at 90° C. ^(e)Reaction carried in an open atmosphere. — not detected.

Referring to the scheme-1 and table 1, the fluorination reaction was conducted with bacterial cellulose-TBAF complex using acetonitrile or benzene toluene (entry 6) as a solvent at a temperature in the range of 50-100° C. for a substrate: complex ratio of 1:1 to 1:2 to obtain more that 70% selectivity of desired fluorinated product. The complex used is in the range of 1:1 to 1:2 of TBAF: cellulose. In a preferred embodiment, the cellulose is bacterial cellulose.

It was found that the polysaccharide can be recycled up to 5 times. After completion of reaction as disclosed in scheme 1, the reaction mass is cooled to 25-35° C. and bacterial cellulose is filtered. It is further washed with ethyl acetate and dried under high-vacuum (2 mbar) to re-use for further loading of TBAF to form complex for further reactions. Only polysaccharide is recyclable So what is recyclable is not the polysaccharide supported TBAF complex but the support as such).

TABLE 2 Yield of Entry Loading of TBAF fluorinated product 1 Recycling 70% loading of TBAF 94% 2 Recycling 68% loading of TBAF 94% 3 Recycling 68% loading of TBAF 93% 4 Recycling 66% loading of TBAF 94%

Table 2 summarizes the results obtained by using recycled complex

The invention will now be described with the help of examples.

EXAMPLES

Following examples are given by way of illustration and therefore should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention.

Example 1: General Procedure for the Synthesis of Non-Hygroscopic and Thermally Stable Polysaccharide Supported TBAF Complex

For the reaction pectin, starch and plant cellulose were procured from Sigma Chemicals Co., USA. Bacterial cellulose was synthesized in lab using indigenous bacteria which inventors have isolated as described in RSC Advances, 2018, 8, 29797-29805, DOI: 10.1039/c8ra05295f.

To a flame-dried round bottom flask equipped with cooling condenser, tetra-n-butyl ammonium fluoride hydrate and polysaccharide support (pectin/starch/plant cellulose/bacterial cellulose) was added in their respective equivalent amount (w/w) in 100 ml of hexane. This mixture was refluxed in nitrogen atmosphere at 80° C. for 1.5 h with vigorous stirring. During the reaction, complex shows the water droplets on sidewall of the condenser, which indicates the completion of the reaction and complex formed. The solution was allowed to cool to 25-30° C., filtered, washed with hexane and dried under high vacuum at 25-35° C. to give the desired non-hygroscopic and thermally stable polysaccharide supported TBAF complex which was used for the aliphatic nucleophilic fluorination reaction.

In this manner other fluorinating complexes were prepared with polysaccharides including pectin, starch, bacterial cellulose and plant cellulose in the ratios 1:0.1 to 1:6 w/w of polysaccharide:TBAF.

Example 2: Preparation and Characterization of Pectin+TBAF Complex: NBu₄(Pec-OH)F

Loading, weight ratio (%) w/w Sr. No Pectin TBAF Result 1 1 1 Solid 2 1 2 Sticky Solid 3 1 3 Sticky Solid

Example 3: Preparation and Characterization of Bacterial Cellulose+TBAF Complex: NBu₄(Bac-Cell-OH)F

Loading, weight ratio (%)w/w Sr. No Bacterial cellulose TBAF Result 1 1 1 Solid 2 1 2 Solid 3 1 3 Solid 4 1 4 Solid 5 1 5 Slightly Sticky Solid 6 1 6 Sticky Solid

Example 4: Preparation of Characterization of Plant Cellulose+TBAF Complex: NBu₄ (Pla-Cell-OH)F

Loading, weight ratio (%)w/w Sr. No Plant cellulose TBAF Result 1 1 1 Gel 2 1 0.9 Gel 3 1 0.8 Gel 4 1 0.7 Sticky Solid 5 1 0.6 Sticky Solid 6 1 0.5 Sticky Solid 7 1 0.4 Sticky Solid 8 1 0.3 Solid

Example 5: Preparation of Characterization of Starch+TBAF Complex: NBu₄(Sta-Cell-OH)F

Loading, weight ratio (%)w/w Sr. No Starch TBAF Result 1 1 1 Gel 2 1 0.9 Gel 3 1 0.8 Gel 4 1 0.7 Gel 5 1 0.6 Sticky Solid 6 1 0.5 Sticky Solid 7 1 0.4 Sticky Solid 8 1 0.3 Solid

Example 6: A Representative Fluorination Procedure: Synthesis of 4-(3-fluoropropoxy)-1,2-dimethoxybenzene

In a flame dried round bottom flask, substrate compound (maybe a range should be given 0.290 mg, 1 mmol) and NBu₄(Bac-cell-OH)F.1 (0.3915 mg, 1.5 eq) in dry acetonitrile were taken and the reaction vial was flushed with N₂ and stirred at a temperature in the range of 50-100° C. for a time period in the range of 1-3 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to a temperature in the range of 25-35° C. and the reaction mixture was filtered using sintered funnel. The reaction mixture was washed with ethyl acetate and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography using (20% EtOAc/hexane) to give corresponding fluorinated compound.

4-(3-fluoropropoxy)-1,2-dimethoxybenzene: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 6.10 (s, 3H), 4.71 (t, J=5.8 Hz, 1H), 4.59 (t, J=5.8 Hz, 1H), 4.07 (t, J=6.1 Hz, 2H), 3.78 (s, 6H), 2.25-2.08 (m, 2H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 161.5, 160.6, 93.3, 93.1, 80.4 (d, J=164.15 Hz), 63.5, (d, J=4.62 Hz), 55.3, 30.4 (d, J=20.04 Hz). ¹⁹F NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 222.14

A similar procedure was followed for different substrates to obtain following fluorinated products.

2-fluoro-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethan-1-one: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.45 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.43-7.38 (m, 2H), 7.19-7.15 (m, 1H), 5.52 (d, J=46.71 Hz, 2H), 3.87 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 193.1, (d, J=15.33 Hz), 160.0, 134.9, 129.9, 120.6, 120.6, (d, J=2.8 Hz), 112.1, (d, J=1.93 Hz), 84.5, (d, J=182.11 Hz), 55.5; ¹⁹F NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 232.60.

1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-fluoroethan-1-one; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.87 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 2H), 7.49 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 5.49 (d, J=46.71 Hz, 2H); ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 192.5 (d, J=15.33 Hz), 140.7, 132.1, 129.4 (d, J=2.88 Hz), 129.3, 84.6 (d, J=184.03 Hz); ¹⁹F NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 232.60.

1-fluorododecane: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 4.50 (t, J=6.1 Hz, 1H), 4.39 (t, J=6.1 Hz, 1H), 1.75-1.63 (m, 2H), 1.28 (m, 18H), 0.89 (t, J=6.1 Hz, 2H); ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 84.2 (d, J 163.68 Hz), 31.9, 30.4 (d, J=19.27 Hz) 29.6, 29.6, 29.5, 29.4, 29.3, 25.2, 25.1, 22.7, 14.1; ¹⁹F NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 232.60.

1-fluoropentadecane: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 4.50 (t, J=6.1 Hz, 1H), 4.39 (t, J=6.1 Hz, 1H), 1.80-1.61 (m, 2H), 1.44-1.26 (m, 24H), 0.90 (t, J=6.1 Hz, 2H); ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 84.2 (d, J=164.15 Hz), 31.9, 30.4 (d, J=19.25 Hz), 29.7, 29.6, 29.5, 29.4, 29.3, 25.2, 25.1, 22.7, 14.1; ¹⁹F NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 232.60.

9-(2-fluoroethyl)-9H-carbazole: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.16 (d, J=7.9 Hz, 2H), 7.55-7.48 (m, 2H), 7.47-7.42 (m, 2H), 7.35-7.28 (m, 2H), 4.87 (t, J=5.4 Hz, 1H), 4.75 (t, J=4.88 Hz, 1H), 4.64 (t, J=5.4 Hz, 1H), 4.63 (t, J=4.8 Hz, 1H); ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 140.4, 125.8, 123.0, 120.4, 119.3, 108.5, 81.9 (d, J=172.6 Hz), 43.2, (d, J=22.3 Hz); ¹⁹F NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 232.60.

2-benzyl-4-chloro-1-(3-fluoropropoxy)benzene: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.33-7.26 (m, 2H), 7.26-7.13 (m, 4H), 7.09 (d, J=2.7 Hz, 1H), 6.79 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 4.58 (t, J=5.7 Hz, 1H), 4.46 (t, J=6.0 Hz, 1H), 4.06 (t, J=6.0 Hz, 2H), 3.95 (s, 2H), 2.19-2.06 (m, 2H)¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 155.1, 140.1, 131.5, 130.3, 128.7, 128.4, 127.1, 126.1, 125.4, 112.3, 80.4, (d, J=164.86 Hz), 63.8 (d, J=4.79 Hz), 30.4, (d, J 20.13 Hz); ¹⁹F NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 232.60.

1-(3-fluoropropoxy)-1H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazole: ¹H NMR, 2N (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.51 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (dd, J=2.3, 8.7 Hz, 1H), 6.82 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 4.76 (t, J=5.7 Hz, 1H), 4.64 (t, J=5.7 Hz, 1H), 4.14 (t, J=6.0 Hz, 2H), 2.27-2.17 (m, 2H); ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 153.6, 132.7, 130.5, 124.1, 114.6, 112.8, 80.4 (d, J=164.85 Hz), 64.9, (d, J=4.79 Hz), 30.2 (d, J=20.13 Hz); ¹⁹F NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ=232.60.

1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-2-fluoroethan-1-one: ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 193.0, (d, J=15.34 Hz 146.8, 139.5, 132.3, 129.0, 128.5, 128.4, 127.5, 127.2, 127.1, ¹⁹F NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ=232.60.

(6S)-4-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-6-fluoro-2,2-F dimethyltetrahydrofuro[3,4-d][1,3]dioxole: ¹H NMR (400 MHz CDCl₃) δ 5.59 (d, J=59.51 Hz 1H), 4.86 (dd, J=3.5, 5.3 Hz, 1H), 4.78 (t, J=6.1 Hz, 1H), 4.44-4.38 (m, 1H), 4.17 (dd, J=3.1, 7.6 Hz, 1H), 4.12 (dd, J=6.10, 8.39 Hz, 1H), 4.09-4.05 (dd, J=4.4, 8.39 Hz, 1H), 1.46 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 6H), 1.39 (s, 3H), 1.35 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 114.7, 113.7 (d, J=69.09 Hz) 109.4, 84.7 (d, J=42.17 Hz) 82.6, 78.6, 72.7, 66.6, 26.9, 25.8, 25.1, 24.5: ¹⁹F NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 232.60.

3-Fluorostigmasterol:

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 5.34 (d, J=5.0 Hz, 1H), 5.19-5.14 (m, 1H), 5.02 (dd, J=8.6, 15.1 Hz, 1H), 3.34-3.23 (m, 1H), 2.30 (dd, J=2.9, 13.2 Hz, 1H), 2.27-2.20 (m, 1H), 2.10-1.95 (m, 5H), 1.88-1.82 (m, 2H), 1.74-1.69 (m, 1H), 1.58 (s, 3H), 1.55-1.45 (m, 8H), 1.27 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 1.20-1.15 (m, 3H), 1.01 (s, 4H), 0.85 (d, J=6.1 Hz, 3H), 0.81 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 7H), 0.70 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 141.3, 138.3, 129.2, 121.3, 56.5 (d, J=116.34 Hz), 51.2, 50.3, 42.2, 40.5, 40.0, 39.7, 37.4, 36.9, 31.9, 31.9, 29.4, 28.9, 25.4, 24.4, 21.2, 21.1, 19.4, 19.0, 12.2, 12.0; ¹⁹F NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 232.60.

Example 7: General Process for the Recovery of the Polysaccharide Support from Used Cellulosic Supported TBAF Complex

After completion of the reaction as disclosed in scheme 1, the reaction mixture was cooled to 25-35° C. Bacterial cellulose was filtered, washed with ethyl acetate and dried under high-vacuum (2 mbar) to re-use for further loading with TBAF.

Advantages of the Invention

-   -   The present invention provides a new thermally stable, non         hygroscopic polysaccharide supported TBAF complex as a         fluorinating agent.     -   The polysaccharide component of disclosed complex is recyclable     -   The complex provides broad substrate scope, good selectivity and         excellent yields of fluorinated products 

1. A non-hygroscopic, thermally stable complex for aliphatic SN2 fluorination reactions, the complex comprising a polysaccharide support and tetra-n-butyl ammonium fluoride complexed to the polysaccharide support, wherein the w/w ratio of the polysaccharide support to the tetra-n-butyl ammonium fluoride in the complex is from 1:0.3 to 1:6.
 2. The non-hygroscopic, thermally stable complex of claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide support is selected from pectin, bacterial cellulose, plant cellulose, or starch.
 3. The non-hygroscopic, thermally stable complex of claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide support is a bacterial cellulose obtained from a Komagataeibacter rharticus PG2 strain isolated from a pomegranate host, the bacterial cellulose having a crystallinity index of 80.80 as measured using XRD and a nano-fibrillar width from 30 nm to 80 nm as measured using scanning electron microscopy.
 4. The non-hygroscopic, thermally stable complex of claim 3, wherein the w/w ratio of the bacterial cellulose support to the tetra-n-butyl ammonium fluoride is 1:3.
 5. A process for the preparation of a non-hygroscopic, thermally stable complex according to claim 1, the process comprising: (a) adding a polysaccharide support and tetra-n-butyl ammonium fluoride hydrate at a w/w ratio of 1:0.3 to 1:6 in hexane to obtain a mixture; (b) refluxing the mixture obtained in (a) under inert atmosphere at 80° C. for 1.5 hours with vigorous stirring to obtain a solution; (c) cooling the solution obtained in (b) to 25-30° C., filtering, washing with hexane followed by drying under high vacuum to obtain the non-hygroscopic, thermally stable complex.
 6. A process for fluorination using the non-hygroscopic, thermally stable complex according to claim 1, the process comprising: (i) charging a substrate compound and the complex in a w/w ratio from 1:1 to 2:1 into a solvent to obtain a reaction mixture; (ii) stirring the reaction mixture obtained in (i) at a temperature from 50° C. to 100° C. for 3 hours; (iii) cooling the reaction mixture obtained in (ii) to a temperature from 25° C. to 35° C., filtering, and washing with ethyl acetate solvent; (iv) removing the solvent from the reaction mixture as obtained in (iii) under reduced pressure to obtain a fluorinated compound; (v) purifying the fluorinated compound obtained in (iv) using flash chromatography by using 20% ethyl acetate in hexane eluent to afford pure fluorinated compound.
 7. The process of claim 6, wherein the solvent used in (i) of the fluorination reaction is selected from acetonitrile or toluene.
 8. The non-hygroscopic, thermally stable complex of claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide support is recyclable up to 4 times as a fluorinating agent. 